Castillo said he wanted a black Mercedes. How does he plan on collecting from McRae? "I'll just keep on him," he said.

McRae was asked how long he would get to pay off Castillo. "He took three years to get a hit," McRae said. "So I'll take my time."

McRae, who makes $3.9 million, can afford it.

Sandberg update: Ryne Sandberg went 1 for 4 with a double down the right-field line leading off the second inning and a strikeout to end the game. He'll get more opportunities to play with left-handers John Smiley pitching on Sunday and Pittsburgh's Steve Cooke on Tuesday.

Target practice? Barry Larkin was hit in the shoulder by a Castillo pitch in the fifth inning and went out to pick up the ball before heading to first base. Scott Servais followed him out in case Larkin got any wild ideas. Larkin appeared to be complaining all the way to first. Castillo had not hit a batter all year.

Brant Brown was hit by Pete Schourek last week in Cincinnati after back-to-back homers by Servais and Jose Hernandez. Riggleman said then that the drilling was "uncalled for" but said no reprisals were necessary.

Finally: Shawon Dunston's seventh-inning home run was his 100th in a Cubs uniform. He's one of 16 players in Cubs history with 100 or more home runs with the team.